Suarez sparked outrage before kick-off of last weekend's clash with Manchester United when he snubbed Evra, who the Uruguayan had been found guilty of racially abusing in October to subsequently receive an eight-match ban.

In the wake of the incident, Liverpool and Suarez apologised for the refusal to shake hands, but the player and the Anfield club have still been widely criticised.

Suarez's international team-mate Lugano claims the whole uproar is nothing more than a "football argument" and believes the furore surrounding Suarez is just a circus.

"He has gone through a few months he did not deserve. Everyone in football knows it is a big circus," Lugano told his official website.

"Take into account that England is historically a colonial country and racism is a sensitive subject, but we all know it has nothing to do with what happened between Luis and the Manchester United player.

"It's a football argument, and many false moralists and hypocrites have profited, and Luis is the only innocent party in this situation.

"For what he did on Saturday Luis must have balls. He followed his convictions.

"We live in a democracy and if you do not want to greet someone, do not greet them."

Suarez has also won support from Uruguay presidet Jose Mujica felt the situation with Evra had been hyped up.

"There is solidarity with Suárez. Suárez is not a racist and never will be," Mujica Uruguayan radio station M24